1964 Insects in Our World: Book

[Smotzer]

Just wanted to share with you a book I recently acquired from a relative. Awesome book from the Whitman World Library Insects in Our World by entomologist R. D. Shenefelt , it was my moms when she was a kid apparently.

for a book that presumably was targeted as more of a children’s book to teach about insects it is surprisingly filled with some pretty great information like anatomy and life stage terminology and history of insects in general and in history of specific insects. Anyway just wanted to share with my insects friends!

 

[Frogdaddy]

Yeah they don't make 'em like that anymore.
20 somethings are saying what's that thing with all that paper bound together? Can I get that on my kindle?

 

[Introvertebrate]

I can remember car windshields plastered with dead bugs in the 60s. That’s less frequent nowadays.

 

[Jess S]

I can remember car windshields plastered with dead bugs in the 60s. That’s less frequent nowadays.

There was a discussion on UK radio a couple years back, about that very thing.
They used to call it moth snow storms/blizzards. You couldn't drive more than a couple miles at night without so many moths hitting your windscreen, you had a job to see through it.
A motorcyclist said they used to take paper towels and were forced to stop every few miles, just to clean the bugs off their visors and windshields.

Is it pesticides that have killed the moths, or all the cars ?!!

 

[schmiggle]

@Smotzer that's a really cool book! Most of my reference books use photos, but I think you lose a lot there in terms of anatomical clarity. I have the Durin/Scherer Beetles and Other Insects, and it's one of my most prized books. Glad to see someone else appreciates naturalist painting!

 

[Introvertebrate]

.............Is it pesticides that have killed the moths, or all the cars ?!!

Probably a combination of factors. Plain ‘ol urban development.

 

[The Snark]

Is it pesticides that have killed the moths, or all the cars ?!!

The 'perfect storm' scenario. Storms don't consist of just rain or just wind or occluding sunlight. Human thinking is far too simplistic. Die offs occur all the time for a vast variety of reasons. Avoiding contributing to the storm is the best approach.

The OP. Sure don't make books like they used to. A friend, amateur ornithologist, had a 5 volume set of birds of Europe like that. After he died his wife was about to give it away. A naturalist accidentally discovered the books and stirred up a hornets nest at his local university. They coughed up $5000 for the set. First edition with footnotes hand written by the artist.

 

[Jess S]

The 'perfect storm' scenario. Storms don't consist of just rain or just wind or occluding sunlight. Human thinking is far too simplistic. Die offs occur all the time for a vast variety of reasons. Avoiding contributing to the storm is the best approach.

The OP. Sure don't make books like they used to. A friend, amateur ornithologist, had a 5 volume set of birds of Europe like that. After he died his wife was about to give it away. A naturalist accidentally discovered the books and stirred up a hornets nest at his local university. They coughed up $5000 for the set. First edition with footnotes hand written by the artist.

It amused me listening to the broadcast at the time, as the people phoning in were describing car journeys where they'd have 100's of dead moths on their windscreen within a couple of miles. Then they'd say, " I wonder what's happened to all the moths?"
Me : " What, you mean the moths that got splattered on your windscreen? Yeah, I wonder what happened to them?

In reality the demise is down to more than one reason, but I do love a bit of irony!

 

[Smotzer]

Most of my reference books use photos, but I think you lose a lot there in terms of anatomical clarity.

Yes this is true!! This one definitely is not a reference book but its an interesting bridge of reference, history, and anatomical and life stage entomology terms.

I have the Durin/Scherer Beetles and Other Insects, and it's one of my most prized books. Glad to see someone else appreciates naturalist painting!

Thats a great book. Do you have the original 1980 first edition print?? If so post it in the book thread ill shhow you some of my prized naturalist books by my favorite Naturalist Author : Donald Culross Peattie

I tried getting my hands on thhe Durin Insects Ect: An anthology....but got out bid.

 

[schmiggle]

Thats a great book. Do you have the original 1980 first edition print?? If so post it in the book thread ill shhow you some of my prized naturalist books by my favorite Naturalist Author : Donald Culross Peattie

I tried getting my hands on thhe Durin Insects Ect: An anthology....but got out bid.

It's certainly not a first edition print. I got it as a birthday present. May post that and the Codex Seraphinianus (also not first edition) in the book thread anyway lol

 

[Smotzer]

It's certainly not a first edition print. I got it as a birthday present. May post that and the Codex Seraphinianus (also not first edition) in the book thread anyway lol

Oh well, its still an incredible book, such amazing art!! And yeah post it!!